From local jam sessions in Luxembourg to sharing a stage with Sting, drummer Chris Maas proves that relentless hustle and preparation – not luck – are what make dreams come true.
From humble beginnings in Luxembourg to touring with some of music’s most iconic names – such as Sting – Chris Maas' story is one of hard work, hustle, and timing. In a candid conversation with Today Radio, the drummer from Meispelt opened up about his path to success, the realities of working as a session player, and the highs and lows of life on the road.
Living the dream
Currently touring with Sting, Maas reflected on his career journey, which began with taking every opportunity he could get. “Someone sent me this clip of an interview in 2010 or 2011 where they asked me, ‘What’s your dream gig?’ and I said Sting.” Now, more than a decade later, “This is it. I’m doing it.”
But the path to success has been far from straightforward. After graduating from the Conservatoire and moving to London in the early 2000s, Maas quickly realised that talent alone wouldn’t cut it. “There are so many incredible musicians here. As someone from Luxembourg, you're just like, ‘Oh my god, what am I doing here? This is crazy.’”
He spent his early 20s going to gigs, meeting new people, and grabbing every opportunity he could. “Twenty years later, I’m still doing it. I still don’t have much more of an idea what I’m doing.”
Being ready when opportunity knocks
He attributes his success to being ready when the right opportunity eventually presented itself. “You get the opportunity, but in order for you to take the opportunity you have to be ready, and in order to be ready, that's all hard work. That's got nothing to do with luck.”
His breakthrough, supporting British rapper Example, came from a chance phone call. A friend was out at a bar, met someone looking for a drummer, and passed along his number.
“That was it,” Maas said. “People will say it's that one phone call, and it was.”
'You can never show whether you like the music or not'
As a session musician, Maas has worked across genres, from hip hop to indie pop to rock. This diversity is what drew him to the profession. “If you're in a band, that band is your identity, and I always found that quite restrictive,” he said. “I love the variety this job offers on a daily basis.”
Still, switching genres isn’t easy – especially for drummers, many of whom are trained in the technical heights of jazz or the physical demands of metal, and who may find the simpler arrangements in rock and pop tedious to perform night after night.
Maas emphasised the discipline and humility required in his role: “Your job is not to put on a show for people to like you. You're there to perform someone else's music and make that music sound the best it possibly can. You need to leave everything personal behind when you step on that stage and convince the listener it’s your favourite music.”
That includes suppressing ego, maintaining consistency, and delivering – every night, no matter the material.
Managing your mind, your money, and your time
While the glamour of touring is real, Maas also spoke frankly about its psychological toll. “‘Post-tour blues’ is a big word, but it’s real. You come from such a high-adrenaline environment straight into no adrenaline, no show, no nothing. That can be really hard to adjust to.”
To cope, he treats his days at home with the same discipline as life on tour. Maas’s partner makes him lists of things to do around the house, which help him structure his days off. “It’s the same as a day sheet on the road.”
He also discussed the financial challenges artists experience during down periods. “None of these lessons are lessons I learned at school.”
'You’re being dealt a set of cards, and you just have to make the best out of that'
Maas is candid about the support he received early in his career. “I used to be critical of people who had more help – like, borderline nepo-babies – but I was very lucky to have the unconditional support of my parents. They made it possible for me to go to London and kept me afloat during the first couple of years.” Today, every achievement feels like a shared one. “I’ve worked hard, and I continue to work hard. I almost do it more for them than for myself. If it wasn’t for my parents, I wouldn’t be here.”
Now in his forties, Maas says his outlook is becoming more intentional, but he still works session to session and tour to tour. “The nature of the job has never changed and will never change. Every gig ends. And then you start again.”
His advice to up-and-coming artists? “Grab every opportunity. Be ready when your moment comes. And don’t ever stop working.”
Don’t miss it!
Maas will be speaking live at Rocklab this Monday in a panel discussion titled From Lux to Global Tours with Christophe Maas, moderated by Sam Steen from Today Radio. He’ll share more behind-the-scenes insights on life as a touring drummer, building a global career, and staying grounded in an unpredictable industry.
Catch him performing with Sting on Tuesday, 1 July at Luxexpo Open-Air. Tickets are available here.
Listen to the full interview with Sarah Tapp on RTL Play.
